MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualifying Criteria, Number of Attempts
Management Aptitude Test 2026 ( MAT )
MAT December 2026 PBT Registration Last
14 Dec '26
MAT eligibility criteria is graduation. However, before filling up the MAT application form, you must know the academic requirement as per your course. Know here the details of MAT eligibility criteria 2026 as prescribed by the AIMA.
MAT eligibility criteria
MAT exam eligibility criteria has been prescribed by the AIMA. It is a set of academic requirements to be able to appear for the MAT exam. Since, MAT is an entrance exam for postgraduate programmes, the basic eligibility criteria is graduation. Candidates who wish to appear for MAT 2026, need to fulfill the eligibility criteria. Each candidate's credentials are verified at the time of admission. If any candidates presents incorrect data, their candidature may be cancelled.
There is no minimum score requirement for MAT exam but the AICTE mandates minimum 50% marks in Graduation for General category candidates and 45% for Reserved category candidates, for full-time MBA programmes. All MBA colleges accepting MAT score abide by the mandate, thus aspirants must make sure they have scored the minimum marks in graduation.
MAT score is accepted by over 800 B-schools across the country for admission to MBA/PGDM courses. Those who plan to take the MAT 2026 exam, must check the eligibility criteria before applying. AIMA conducts MAT exam in February, May, September and December. MAT exam 2026 registration last date for December session is December 14, for the PBT mode and December 21, for CBT mode. The MAT exam will be held on December 20 (PBT) and December 27 (CBT).
Also Read: How to prepare for MAT without coaching?
MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates need only passing marks in graduation to be eligible for MAT. Check complete details of MAT eligibility criteria below:
MAT Exam Eligibility: Academic Qualification
- Candidates must have completed bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised Institute or University.
- Candidates appearing in the final year examination or awaiting result for Bachelor's degree are also eligible to appear for MAT 2026.
MAT Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit
There is no age limit to appear for MAT exam. However, since the academic qualification is graduation, the age of candidates is usually 20 and above.
MAT Criteria: Work Experience
Work experience is not a mandatory eligibility criteria for MAT. However, it carries extra weightage in selection process of MBA colleges accepting MAT score. Only full-time managerial level jobs will be considered as work experience.
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MAT Eligibility Criteria for Participating Institutes
As per the general MAT eligibility criteria fixed by the participating institutes, candidates should have a bachelor's degree and a valid MAT score. The B-schools specify eligible marks for the qualifying degree examination. Minimum requirement is 50 per cent aggregate for General category and 45 per cent aggregate for Reserved category.
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MAT Exam Eligibility: Reservation Criteria
MAT or AIMA does not prescribe Reservation criteria for the entrance exam. The Reservation Policy is followed by score accepting colleges as specified by the participating colleges as per the Reservation Policy of the Government of India. Certain percentages of seats are reserved under quota.
MAT Reservation Criteria for SC/ST/OBC/EWS candidates
Candidates belonging to the Reserved categories are eligible for admission in to MBA programme as per the quota percentage given below. Such candidates have to submit at the time of admission, respective caste/tribe certificate issued by the Government of India to get a seat through Reservation Policy.
| Category |
Seat Quota Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) |
15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes, Non-Creamy layer (NC-OBC) |
27% |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) |
10% |
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
MAT Reservation Criteria for PwD candidates
As per the RPwD Act 2016, 5 per cent seats are reserved for PwD candidates in educational institutions.
The categories of disability are:
- Blindness and low vision
- Deaf and hard of hearing
- Locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy, cured dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy.
- Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness
- Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under one to four
- Other ‘specified disabilities’ mentioned in ‘The Schedule’ of the RPwD Act 2016
Read More:
- Top MBA colleges accepting MAT score for admission
- MBA colleges accepting MAT scores
- MBA colleges accepting MAT score in India
- MBA colleges accepting MAT in Delhi/NCR
- MBA Colleges accepting MAT in Bangalore
- MBA Colleges accepting MAT in Kolkata
- MBA Colleges accepting MAT in Pune
- MBA Colleges accepting MAT in Mumbai
Commonly asked questions
No, IIMs do not accept MAT score for MBA Admission. They only accept CAT score for admission to their MBA/PGP programmes. However, MAT score is accepted by over 700 MBA colleges in India including: Amity University GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research Christ University GITAM Institute of Management JIMS Rohini Jain University Taxila Business School, Jaipur SRM University Birla Institute of Management Technology Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Tezpur University Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India IIFM Bhopal YMCA.
MAT score is valid for admission for the same academic year in which the candidate has taken the exam. For example, MAT 2025 score will be valid for admission for 2025-2026 MBA batch only. If a candidate wishes to drop a year after taking the MAT exam, then they will have to appear for the exam once again next year. They should however check the eligibility or selection criteria to have a clarity of MAT score of which session/phase is valid for admission in which academic year. For example, for 2025 academic session MAT September and MAT December scores will be valid for admission to some MBA colleges who have the admission cycle of January-February. Whereas, colleges who conduct admission in March-May accept MAT February exam scores for admission. To simplify, MAT test takers must not try to use their score for admission more than one year after appearing for it. They should appear for it again and use the latest score for admission.
For every MAT attempt in different phases you need to fill a separate form. However, if you are planning to go for more than one attempt in the same exam phase, they you can apply for a combination of two exam session.
Candidate can take MAT in the following modes and combinations:
- Remote Proctored Internet Based Test (IBT) or
- Double Remote Proctored Internet Based Test (IBT) or
- Paper Based Test (PBT) or
- Paper Based Test and Remote Proctored Internet Based Test (PBT+IBT) or
- Computer Based Test (CBT) or
- Computer Based Test and Remote Proctored Internet Based Test (CBT+IBT) or
- Paper Based Test and Computer Based Test (PBT+CBT)
The MAT application form will be common and candidates will have to only mention their exam modes in it.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
Top management institutes accepting the MAT Exam generally expect a cutoff percentile between 75 and 90, while top-tier colleges may require 90+ percentile.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Students interested in MBA at any of the Symbiosis Institutes need to take the Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) Computer Based Test which will be conducted at designated test centres.
However, the institute does offer special pathways to Indian students allowing them to register for classes even i
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
To be eligible for the MBA scholarship provided by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology via MAT, candidates must have secured 95 Percentile and above (applicable for December 2025 MAT & February 2026 MAT) (centre based/offline examination).
R
Contributor-Level 10
Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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